Rockbridge Grand Jury Indictments
Three individuals were indicted by a Rockbridge County grand jury last week with multiple felony charges, including several counts of production of child pornography apiece, including a Rockbridge County man.
Stephen Robert Lucas, 38, of Fairfield, was indicted on a total of 22 charges. He was indicted on one count each of possession, production and distribution of child pornography on May 5, 2022, and an additional five counts of each as a second or subsequent offense. Four of the five indictments for each charge were dated May 30, 2024, and the other charges were dated June 12, 2024. Lucas was also indicted on four counts of taking indecent liberties with a child on May 30, 2024.
Lucas was arrested last August following an investigation that began with a tip from the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force which came across pictures on the internet that they were able to determine originated in Rockbridge County, at which point they contacted the sheriff’s office to continue the investigation locally. He is currently being held without bond in Rockbridge Regional Jail.
The other two individuals are not local, though one is already in custody in Rockbridge County. Gage Loki Koelsch, 21, of Roanoke was indicted on eight felony charges: three counts of using a communication device to solicit a minor between March 26 and June 18, 2024, three counts of production of child pornography between March 26 and June 19, 2024, and two counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor on July 9, 2024. He was taken into custody last week and is also being held without bond at Rockbridge Regional Jail.
Julio A. Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, Illinois, was indicted on a total of 29 felony charges: five counts of production of child pornography on July 29, 2024, two counts of production of child pornography on Nov. 27, 2024, and 22 counts of using a communication device to propose a sex act to a minor between July 29 and Dec. 4, 2024. A capias warrant has been issued for his arrest. -The following individuals were also indicted by the grand jury on May 5: Christopher Randolph Zollman, 38, for one count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) and one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon on Nov. 10, 2024.
Tamara Marie Miller, 36, for three counts of torturing or maiming a dog or cat causing death or injury to the animal on Oct. 17, 2024.
Benton Douglas Nelms, 43, for one count of strangulation on Dec. 1, 2024.
Candice Renee Dunswick, 34, for one count of grand larceny of a motor vehicle on Feb. 6, 2025.
Jonathan Alexander Sorrells, 53, for one count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (Methamphetamine) on June 29, 2023.
Andres Santiago Cadena, 27, for one count of eluding police and two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer on Nov. 16, 2024.
Forest Edward Elliott, 31, for one count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (Methamphetamine) on Oct. 6, 2024.
Ryan Hunter Smith for one count of grand larceny of a motor vehicle and one count of felony destruction of property on Dec. 10, 2024.
David Jay Douglas, 48, for two counts of assault on a rescue squad member on Sept. 1, 2024.
Corey Evan Taylor, 24, for one count of assault on a law enforcement officer on Jan. 10, 2025.
Jeremy Lee Davis, 35, for one count of domestic assault (third or subsequent offense) on Jan. 12, 2025.
Charles Louis Fitzgerald Jr., 22, for three counts of felony credit card fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit credit card fraud on Dec. 26, 2024.
Anthony Levi Layne, 30, for one count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (Methamphetamine) on Sept. 12, 2024.
Gerald Russ Nelson III, 43, for one count of felony credit card fraud and one count of credit card theft on Dec. 26, 2024.
Travis Dayne Taylor, 44, for one count of obtaining a credit card number through larceny on Sept. 25, 2024.
Nathan Russell Smedley, 34, for one count of burglary at night to commit a felony and one count of breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony on Dec. 3, 2024.
Isaiah Henry Abshire, 19, for one count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (Bromazolam) and one count of selling a schedule I or II drug on Dec. 27, 2024.
William Presley Daniel, 28, for one count of suffocation on Dec. 20, 2024.
Shaun Adam Smith, 36, for one count of eluding police on Nov. 18, 2024.
Barry Wade Bryant Jr., 28, for one count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (Methamphetamine) on Aug. 25, 2024.
Aaron Lane Eckard, 34, for one count of assault on a law enforcement officer on Feb. 13.
Matthew Bennington, 29, for one count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (Methamphetamine) on Aug. 3, 2024.
James Martin, 49, for one count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (Methamphetamine) on Oct. 13, 2024.
Walter Carl Ingram III, 45, for one count of grand larceny of a motor vehicle, one count of felony destruction of property, and one count of conspiracy to commit grand larceny of a motor vehicle on Jan. 15, 2025.
Katherine Shaye Murray, 35, for one count of conspiracy to commit grand larceny of a motor vehicle and one count of accessory to grand larceny of a motor vehicle on Jan. 15, 2025.
Jayce Anne Sandridge, 47, for one count of hit and run with an injured victim on Feb 26, 2025.
Collin Devonte McLaurin, 21, for one count of eluding police and one count of child abuse or neglect on Aug. 19, 2024.
George Douglas Wade Sr., 45, for one count of failure to register as a violent sex offender on June 30, 2024.
Antwan Woodley, 43, for one count of failure to register as a violent sex offender on Feb. 5, 2025.
Jerome D. Peel, 44, for one count of hit and run with more than $1,000 of property damage on Dec. 17, 2024.
Loran Elizabeth Huffman, 33, for one count of credit card theft on Nov. 21, 2024.
Jace Makyle Southers, 20, for one count of strangulation on July 1, 2024 and one count of strangulation on July 8, 2024.
Jason Blair Swink, for two counts of violation of a protective order for the third time in 20 years where at least one of the previous convictions involved a threat of violence on May 6 and July 12, 2024; two misdemeanor counts of annoying ringing without intent to converse on April 14 and 28, 2024, and one misdemeanor count of violation of a protective order on Jan. 20, 2024.
James Michael McCool, 20, for four misdemeanor counts of violation of a protective order between April 15 and June 10, 2024.
Griffin Spencer Howard, 27, for one count of conspiracy to commit larceny and one count of conspiracy to commit statutory burglary between Nov. 10 and Nov. 16, 2024.
Kristi Dawn Harris, for two counts of statutory burglary and two counts of grand larceny on Nov. 16, 2024, and one count of conspiracy to commit statutory burglary and one count of conspiracy to commit grand larceny between Nov. 16 and Nov. 26, 2024.
Becky Laujean Myers, 31, for one count of welfare fraud between Dec. 1, 2021 and Jan. 31, 2023; one count of fraudulently obtaining welfare assistance between Aug. 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2022; and one count of welfare fraud due to failure to report a change in circumstances between Aug. 1, 2022 and Jan. 31, 2023.
Bryant Preston Lowman, 34, for one count of obtaining money through false pretenses between June 10 and July 16, 2024.
Shyanne Elizabeth Bryant, 22, for one count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (Methamphetamine) on Jan. 17.
Courtney Dawn Lynn, 25, for one count of grand larceny of a motor vehicle between March 9 and March 11, 2025.
Megan Charlotte McKeeman, 43, for one count of fraudulently obtaining $1,000 or more in welfare assistance, one count of welfare fraud of $1,000 due to failing to report a change in circumstances and one count of welfare fraud between Aug. 10, 2022 and May 31, 2023.
Human Trafficking
Charges Certified
A felony charge of human trafficking against a Lexington man has been certified to the grand jury, along with several related misdemeanor charges.
Earl Wayne Smith, 67, of Lexington, was taken into custody by Virginia State Police on Feb. 10 and charged with one felony count of human trafficking and five misdemeanors: three counts of residing in a bawdy place, one count of prostitution and one count of transportation to aid in prostitution.
On Monday, Smith waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Rockbridge County General District Court, certifying all charges to circuit court. During the hearing, Rockbridge County Commonwealth’s Attorney Jared Moon moved to amend the prostitution charge to solicitation of prostitution.
In Virginia, human trafficking is a class four felony and carries a sentence of two to 10 years. The other charges are class 1 misdemeanors, which carry a sentence of up to 12 months and/or a $2,500 fine.
The next grand jury in Rockbridge County Circuit Court will be held on July 14.
